Ronnie Garrison
Well-known member
Left home Aug 22 for a trip north. After a meeting in Springfield, MO I went to Lake Truman for three days - really two half days and one full day. Beautiful lake, don't think they cut down a single tree before backing it up. Got 19 bass up to 3.5 pounds. Lake was 78 degrees and down about 1.5 feet. Water very rich looking, cloudy green from fertilizer run off. Best patterns were spinnerbaits and crankbaits on riprap and pitching jig and pig to wood - which was everywhere.
Went on to Des Moines and fished lakes around there for four days. Lots of 100 to 700 acre state lakes in the area, fantastic fishing, no skiing or skidoos and idle speed only in most areas. Lots of wood cover again - very green water from fertilizer run off, water in low 70s and lots of weeds, too. Worst day I got only 3 bass but we fished only 3 hours and they weighed 3, 4 and 4.5.
In Wisconsin on Boom Lake I practiced three days for the NWC, a newsgroup bass tournament. Water is a tannic green, lake if full of weeds and pads, smallmouth and largemouth. Temp was 68 to 70 degrees. Couple of guys there from Tenn that work for Secret Weapon Spinnerbaits up around Nashville. In three days practice I got four keepers - all within an hour in the same small area. Brain finally kicked in and I left it alone until the tournament and woked it hard first day got 4 keepers. Three hit Senkos pitched to wood and the biggest, a 3.4, hit a Horny Toad in the pads. Lost or missed dozens of hits in the pads every day - exciting fishing but hard to put in the boat. Was in 2nd by only two ounces out of first on day one and had big fish with the 3.4.
Next morning headed to the same area and got a good keeper on my second cast with a Senko by a stump. A little later I had a 3+ pull off the Horney Toad near the boat - got a good look at it in the clear water, just came off. It hit near where the 3.4 hit the day before. Got one more keeper by a log on the Senko at about mid morning but that was it - dropped to fourth place and my big fish was beat by a 3.7 pound smallmouth. Felt a little better when I realized the three guys that beat me all live in the area and one is a local guide.
Left Rhinalander last Sat morning at 9 and it was 34 degrees - felt great. 16 hours, 45 minutes and 1001 miles later I pulled into the Gault Ferry Landing parking lot at Allatoona and slept for three hours in my truck, not the best sleep after sitting up that long driving. Fished a club tournament from 6:30 to 2, got two spots, one on a prototype Secret Weapon spinnerbait and one on a jig and pig. Two weighed 3.81 pounds - good for 7th place in the club. Water in the Little River area was very muddy and way down, could not get to where I usually fish. Water was in upper 70s and both fish hit in a foot of water on a rocky point. Made it home that afternoon at 4:00.
Trip seems like a dream now - this is the sixth year I have fished in Wisconsin this time of year, love it. Very different from around here.
Glad to be home.
Went on to Des Moines and fished lakes around there for four days. Lots of 100 to 700 acre state lakes in the area, fantastic fishing, no skiing or skidoos and idle speed only in most areas. Lots of wood cover again - very green water from fertilizer run off, water in low 70s and lots of weeds, too. Worst day I got only 3 bass but we fished only 3 hours and they weighed 3, 4 and 4.5.
In Wisconsin on Boom Lake I practiced three days for the NWC, a newsgroup bass tournament. Water is a tannic green, lake if full of weeds and pads, smallmouth and largemouth. Temp was 68 to 70 degrees. Couple of guys there from Tenn that work for Secret Weapon Spinnerbaits up around Nashville. In three days practice I got four keepers - all within an hour in the same small area. Brain finally kicked in and I left it alone until the tournament and woked it hard first day got 4 keepers. Three hit Senkos pitched to wood and the biggest, a 3.4, hit a Horny Toad in the pads. Lost or missed dozens of hits in the pads every day - exciting fishing but hard to put in the boat. Was in 2nd by only two ounces out of first on day one and had big fish with the 3.4.
Next morning headed to the same area and got a good keeper on my second cast with a Senko by a stump. A little later I had a 3+ pull off the Horney Toad near the boat - got a good look at it in the clear water, just came off. It hit near where the 3.4 hit the day before. Got one more keeper by a log on the Senko at about mid morning but that was it - dropped to fourth place and my big fish was beat by a 3.7 pound smallmouth. Felt a little better when I realized the three guys that beat me all live in the area and one is a local guide.
Left Rhinalander last Sat morning at 9 and it was 34 degrees - felt great. 16 hours, 45 minutes and 1001 miles later I pulled into the Gault Ferry Landing parking lot at Allatoona and slept for three hours in my truck, not the best sleep after sitting up that long driving. Fished a club tournament from 6:30 to 2, got two spots, one on a prototype Secret Weapon spinnerbait and one on a jig and pig. Two weighed 3.81 pounds - good for 7th place in the club. Water in the Little River area was very muddy and way down, could not get to where I usually fish. Water was in upper 70s and both fish hit in a foot of water on a rocky point. Made it home that afternoon at 4:00.
Trip seems like a dream now - this is the sixth year I have fished in Wisconsin this time of year, love it. Very different from around here.
Glad to be home.
